Journal box



Oct. 11, 1932.

p. s. BARROWS JOURNAL BOX Filed May 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l .DGNHLD JBHRWOWS iNVENTOR Oct. 11, 1932. D. s. BARRoW JOURNAL BOX 3 Sheets$heet 2 Filed May 15, 1929 .Dawmo 5: fixewo W3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 'oct. 11, 1932. D, s, BAR'R S 1,882,058

. JOURNAL BOX Filed May 13. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 .flwvAuo 5. BHRRO ws INVENTOR Patented Oct. 11, 1932 an stares rarsnr orrica DONALD S. BARROWS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYMINGTON z COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND JOURNAL BOX Application filed May 13, 1929. Serial No. 362,833.

This invention relates to journal boxes and, more particularly, to articulated lids for closing the outer openings in said boxes.

The principal object of my invention, gen- 5 erally considered, is to provide a self-adjusting lid for closing the outer opening in an associated journal box, said lid preferably involving a closure member proper with an outstanding rigid or integral hood portion adapted to receive the hinge lug of an associated box, but unprovided with the usual hinging ears, said hood portion partially housing a spring preferably of the torsion type, and means for stressing said spring, said means being pivotally connected at its lower end-adjacent the center of the closure member and being provided with hinging ears at its upper end pivotally connected to the hinge lug, an intermediate portion of said spring stressing means engaging an intermediate portion of said spring to urge it toward said lid and hinge lug. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a journal box lid formed with a housing or hood but unprovided with hinge lugs, the outer face of said lid being formed for pivotally connecting a. spider thereto, the other end of said spider being received in said hood and formedwith hinging ears for connecting said lid to an associated box, spring means being received between said spider and lid, whereby it is properly stressed for holding the lid in open or closed position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a journal box assembly involving a hooded lid and formed without hinging lugs, and a spring stressing spider having hinge lugs at one end for connecting the assembly toan associated box, and means at its other end providing for connection with the associated lid, an intermediate portion thereof being formed as a chair or abutment for the coil portion of a standard torsion spring received between said spider and lid and stressed by said spider so that it engages the hinge lug of an associated box for holding the lid in open or closed position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an articulated journal box lid comprising a closure member, and a spider which functions to provide hingelugs and also to hold the lid actuating spring under the desired stress, said lid and spider being con nected so as to provide for transverse articulation'of the lid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a journal box lid assembly embodying my invention.

"Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of one form of pin adapted to connect the lid assembly to an associated box.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary transverse sectional views corresponding to Figure 2 but showing successive stages in the assembling of the lid with respect to the associated journal box.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing how the pin connecting the spring stressing spider and lid is applied,

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing another embodiment of my invention. 7

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, a portion of a journal box 1 is illustrated with an ordinary form of hingelug 2 extending from the upper wall or roof thereof to which the journal box lid assem- CPI A spring stressing element or spiderS is cone nected to the lid proper by pivotal'means' 9 and engages resilient means 10, preferablyin the form of a torsion spring, to the upper end or loop 11 of which is preferably applied a wear plate 12 which normally engages the hinge lug 2. The spring stressing spider 8' preferably comprises upwardly flaring or diverging arms 13, the intermediate portions of which are connected by atra'nsverse or connecting portion 14 which provides a seat or abutment for the torsion portion or coils of the spring 10. Above said transverse member 14, a preferably angular member 15 is provided which forms a further connection or brace between the members 13 and strengthens the construction. Above the member 15 the side members 13 are extended and formed as hinging ears 16 adapted to receive the pivot pin or pintle e. y g

, In the present embodiment, the pintle s formed asla plain cylindrical member with notches 17 in its ends, said notches seating corresponding portions 18 on the hinging ears 16, whereby said pin is retained in prop- 1 er position and prevented from turning with v respectto said spider 8, although I donot wish to be limited to this showing, as'the notched portions may be omitted as illustrated in connection with the modifica ion to be subsequently described' Gther; means for pivotally connecting the spidersto the hinge lug, may be employed, if desired, for exam ple, a rivet, ordinary threaded bolt, or a split end pin or other desired pivotal means held in place by the hood of the lid when assembled, or by cotters or other desiredretaining means. The lower'end of thespider 8 terminates in spaced socketed or pocketed portions 19 normally disposed on either side of an outstanding hinge lug 20, and said spider is connected to said hinging lugin any de-' sired manner as by means of the plain pin 9 passmg through a preferably elongated aperture 22 in the lug 20 and withits ends received in the pocketed portions 19.

The spring 10, preferably of the double coil torsion type, is disposed between the spider 8 and the closure portion 7 of the lid 5 and stressed by engagement of the abutment portion 14 of the spider with the coil portions 10 of the spring. The adjacent portions of the spaced coils'of the spring are extended upwardly as the loopedportion 11, which engages the hinge lug 2 and is desirably provided either With the Wear plate 12 shown or with an ordinary form of anti-friction roller. The outer ends of the coils of the spring 10, which are preferably oppositely wound, are continued downwardly, as indicated at 23, and received in pockets or notches 24 on the outer face of the lid for holding said spring in proper position. When the parts are assembled, transverse articulation between the a spider and thelid 1S desirably provided by having the surface 25 on the lug 2O engaging the pin 9 formed convex so that the lid can rollon said pin and provide for a limited amount of angling, so that the lid will at all timesproperly-seat' over the opening in the box. 7

In assembling the lid 3 with the box, the spider 8 is preferably first inserted in the hood 6, as shown in Figure 5, and the spring 10 then placed with its tails or extensions 23 in the trough like seats 24/ The spider is then pried down with a small pinch bar,'fiattening out the spring and forcing the coil portions thereof into the pocket 26 provided in theouter face of the closure portion 7 of the lid, as shown in Figure 6, the lower ends 19 of said spider being likewise depressed into the pocket 26, on the extensions thereof on opposite sides of the lug 20, so that the pin 9 can be inserted in place, as illustrated particularly in Figure 8. Then the spider is pried still further down until two small blocks or chocks or wood 2? or the like can be inserted between the-spider and hood," as illustrated particularly in Figure7. This permits the spider and particularlythe lug portions 16 thereof to project far enough through the hood 6 so that the lid can be simply laid at the proper angle on the hinge lug, as illustrated in Figure 7, and the main pin or pintle 4 inserted. The lid is thenpartially closed until the spring is on the high point 28 of the lug at which stage the blocks 27 will either fall out or may be easily removed by hand on account of the disengagement between the spring and upper edge of the lid. The lid may then be closed all the way and removal of the top pin el is impossible except by first partially opening the lid and separating the hood and spider with a pinch bar. 7

Referring now tov the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11, a construction is there disclosed in which the lid proper 5 is formed of pressed steel rather than as casting, andthe closure portion 7 is desirably rigidified not only by the usual dependingperipheral flange 29, but also by a corrugation 30. As in the previous embodiment, a rigid hood portion 6? is formed outstanding fromthe closure portion 7 and is adapted to receive the spider 8? between it and the closure portion 7 of the lid. "Said spider may be connecte'd to the lid in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment, except that the lug 20 in the present instance is preferably formed separate from the 010- sure portion 7 a and connected theretoby having the inner ends of the strap forming said lug passed through an aperture- 31 in said lid and with the ends turned away from each other, as indicated at 32. As in 'the previous embodiment, notched abutments 24 are de-- sirably provided for the ends 23 of the torsion spring 10 which may be identical with the spring of the first embodiment. As in the previous embodiment, the spider $5 is formed with a seat or abutment portion 14 for engaging the coils of the spring 10 and holding them in stressed position. The spider 8 of the present embodiment maybe identical with the spider 8 of the first embodiment, but in the present instance is shown provided with hinge lugs 16 formed with circular rather than elongated apertures and adapted to receive a hinge pin or pintle i of eylindricalform unprovided with notches, as in the previous embodiment.

On account of this construction, it is unnecessary to provide the segmental notches, indicated at 33 in the first embodiment, and the pintle 4 is inserted after the lid assembly has been moved'to the position illustrated in Figure 7 In the present embodiment, it will be seen that the pint-1e i is positively prevented from loss by the sides of the hood normally extending over the ends thereof, rather than by the segmental notches 18 of the first embodiment. Except as specifically de scribed in connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond substan tially with that of the first embodiment.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an articnlated lid assembly, the lid proper or closure portion of which may be formed either as a casting or pressing and the parts of which are readily manufactured, easily assembled, and adapted to angle laterally to provide for firmly seating the lid over the outer opening in an associated journal box around the full periphery thereof.

Although I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the same are merely illustrative and that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims without departing from my invention.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby and comprising a lid proper formed with a hood adapted to extend over the hinge lug, resilient means engaging said lug for holding the lid in open or closed position, and means for stressing said resilient.

means, said stressing means being p-ivotally connected to the hinge lug at one end and to the lid at the other.

2. In combination, a'journal box having a hinge lug, and a lid assembly mounted thereon and comprising a lid proper formed with a hood spacedoutwardlyfrom the closure portion thereof, resilient means disposed between the outer face of the, closure portion of said lid proper and hood and normally engaging thehinge lug for holding the lid in open or closed position, and means respectively pivoted at its ends to thehinge lug and lid, said means fitting between the hood and the closure portion of the lid proper for stressing said resilient means.

3. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, and a lid assembly for closingthc outer opening in said box, said assembly comprising a closure member with ahood outstanding from the front face thereof and adapted to fit over said lug, a spider received between said closure member and hood, pivr otal means extending through registering apertures in said spider and hinge lug for pivotally connecting the lid assembly to the box, and pivotal means connecting the other end of said spider to said lid, a spring disposed between said spider and closure member, an intermediate portion of said Spider engaging said spring forplacing the same under initial stress and urging said spring against said hinge'lug for holding the lid assembly in opener closed position.

4. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby, said assembly comprising a lid proper, a torsion spring for holding said lid in open or closed position, and a spider adapted to provide hinging ears for said lid and'holding the torsion spring in stressed condition, said lid being formed with an outstanding hood housing the upper ends of said spider and spring, the lower end of said spider being pivoted to said lid, an intermediate portion of said spider engagingan intermediate portion of said spring for forcing the upper and lower ends of said spring respectively against said hinge lug and lid.

5. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby, said assembly comprising a lid, a torsion spring for actuating said lid, and a spider for stressing said spring and providing hinging' ears for said lid, said lid being formed with an outstanding hood normally overlying said lug and housing the upper ends of said spring and spider, outstanding lug means provided on said lid, means pivoting the lower end of said spider to said lug means, said spider being formed as side elements diverging upwardly from the pivotal connection with said lid, saideleme-nts being connected intermediate their ends by a trans verse member forming a seat for the spring, the upper ends of'said sideelements being apertured for receiving the pivotal means for supporting the lid assembly, the hooded portion of said lid normally overlying the ends of Said pivotal means for preventing undesired removal thereof. t I

6. A journal box lid assembly comprising.

a lid proper formed with a hood adapted to receive the hinge lug of an associated box, resilient means normally disposed adjacent the outer face of said lid, and means formed with hinging ears and pivoted to saidlid adjacent the center thereof for stressing said resilient means. v

7. An articulated lid for journal boxes comprising a lid proper formed with a hood spaced outwardly from the closure portion thereof, resilient means disposed between the outer face of said closure portion'of said lid proper and hood and adapted to engage the hinge lug of an associated box for holding the lid in open or closed position, andmeans pivoted atone end to the lid and adapted for pivotal connection at its other end to an associated box and fitting between the hood and closure portion of the lid proper for stressing said resilient means. a

8. A journal box lid assembly comprising a closure member with an outstanding hood portion, a spider received between said closure member and hood, said spider being formed with hinging ears at its upper end, the lower end of said spider being pivotally connected to said lid, and a spring disposed between said spider and closure member and engaged by an intermediate portion ofsaid spider for placing the same under initial stress. i M 9. A journal box lid assembly comprising a lid proper, a torsion spring and spider holding said spring in stressed position against said lid, the upper end of said spider being formed with ears for hinging connecsaid spider and hood, inserting the pintle through hinging ears on the spider and the hinge lug of the box, partially closing the lid, and removing the chock means.

12. The method of'assem'bling an articulated lid and journal box .comprisingpositioning a spring between the front face of a lid and a spring stressing spider formed with hinged lugs, forcing the spider down to flatten out. the spring therebeneath, inserting means to connect said spider and lid, forcing said spider still' further down, inserting chock means to holdsaid'spider down with the hinging ears thereof extending beyond the rear face of said lid, inserting connect ing means through said hinging ears on the spider and the hinge lug of an associated box, partially closing said lid and removing said chock means.

13.The' method of connectingan articulated lid assembly'to an associated journal box comprising positioningflchock means between a hooded portion of said lid and a spring stressing spider thereof to hold hinging ears on said spider in extended position beyond the rear face of said lid, fitting 'piv otal means through said hingingears'and journal box lug while said lid is disposed in open position, partially closing said lid and removing saidchock means.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. DONALD S. BARROWS. 9

tion with an associated box, the lower end of edge thereof, and a member adapted to mount 7 said lid, the upper end of said member being adapted to receive pivot means and the lower end being pivotally connected to said lid and overlying the outer face thereof.

11. The method of assembling, a hooded journal box lid, a spider, a torsion spring, a I

pintle for connecting said spider to an associated box, and apin for connecting said spider to said lid, comprising, inserting the spider in the hood, placing the spring between said spider and lid with its tails engaging the front face of the lid, forcing the I spider down to flatten out the spring there- I beneath, inserting the pin to connect said 5 I spider and lid, forcing the spider still furtherdown, inserting chock means between 

